Nairobi Governor Ann Kananu has directed the Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company not to allow spillage of raw sewage into the Nairobi National Park.
Kananu told the company to repair their blocked manholes.
This is not the first time that authorities are putting NCWSC on notice due to the release of sewage into the park.
In 2019, the National Environment Management Authority warned then acting company managing director that he risked being prosecuted for discharging untreated sewage into the Nairobi River.
This was after firm MD Nahashon Muguna escaped arrest for failing to comply with an order to repair the sewer lines.
Muguna dismissed the summons saying some Nema orders had already been addressed.
Nema has been insisting that the water utility has been releasing raw sewage, watering down the efforts to spruce up the Nairobi River.
Raw sewage has been getting into the Nairobi National Park as most sewer lines are broken and dysfunctional.
The governor spoke on Sunday during the World Environment Day event in Lang’ata.
Kananu said her administration will enforce strict regulations to ensure the park is protected from toxic waste.
She said the county government will partner with the Kenya Wildlife Service and other stakeholders to restore the park.
“We are going to impose strict regulations to protect the park from degradation. We support the Waste-Free Parks initiative by KWS,” Kananu said.
The initiative is aimed at averting pollution at the park and the degradation of nature.
She called on residents to stop littering the park.
The governor appealed to Nairobi residents to be responsible for their environment to benefit their children and the future generation.
“We will continue to use the World Environment Day to make people aware of the issues we are facing. Let this day serve as a reminder for us to strengthen the world and ensure nature is preserved,” Kananu said.
The World Environment Day event was organised by the Dawoodi Bohra Community in partnership with KWS and the county government.
KWS assistant director Vincent Ongwae lauded Kananu for her initiative to save the environment saying a quick mechanism must be initiated to save the park.
“We thank the governor for the orders. The issue has endangered our animals and nature,” Ongwae said.
Dawoodi Bohra community representative Abdulkadir Zakir said environmental matters have been in their hearts for ages.
“We celebrate our achievement in matters concerning environmental conservation and we thank the county government for supporting our initiative to save the environment,” Zakir said.
The theme for this year’s world environment day celebrations is “Only One Earth” focusing on living sustainably in harmony with nature.
In attendance were county executive committee members for environment Larry Wambua and Lang’ata subcounty administrator Seline Ogola, among other officials.
Wambua said he will make sure all the directives issued will be initiated and implemented.
“We must respect nature,” he said.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
